Friday November 21, 2008
Children's Books: Animals
Displayed below are the top selling items for today, Friday November 21, 2008 along with the review customers have voted "most useful".
To find top selling items in for a specific category, use the menu on the left or click here to see all categories.
- If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (If You Give... Books) by Laura Numeroff
- Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'connor
- Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein
- Horton Hears a Who! (Classic Seuss) by Dr. Seuss
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book by Eric Carle
- The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
- Open the Barn Door, Find a Cow (A Chunky Book(R))
- Goodnight Moon (Board Book) by Margaret Wise Brown
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
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If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (If You Give... Books)
by Laura Numeroff
(based on 12 customer reviews)
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(Hardcover)
Author: Laura Numeroff
Publisher: Laura Geringer
Price: $10.19
You save: $6.80 (40%) off the list price!
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
15 out of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/3/08
Not as Good as Mouse/Cookie
We love the "If You Give..." books at our house. Our 2 1/2 year old will sit through "Mouse Cookies & More" which has "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", "If You Give a Pig a Pancake", "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" & "If You Take a Mouse to School" all in one, and then she'll want to read it all over again.
We were very excited to get a new "If You Give..." book, especially one about a cat (our daughter's favorite animal); but I found this story to be less charming than the others. Some of the transitions felt forced; for example, Cat goes to the gym and then suddenly wants to go to the park - I didn't get the connection so the book just didn't flow as well as the others I've read.
This is not to say my little girl isn't completely captivated by the book. We've had it less than a day and have read it through several times (we had to stop because of dinner and bedtime or we'd probably still be reading it!).
So, overall the story is cute and sweet, just like the others, but "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" is still my favorite.
Click here to see more reviews for: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (If You Give... Books)
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Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
by Jane O'connor (based on 57 customer reviews)
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(Hardcover)
Author: Jane O'connor
Publisher: HarperCollins
Price: $10.89
You save: $7.10 (39%) off the list price!
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
33 out of 34 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 3/30/07
Fancy Nancy's Back!
And boy am I glad to see her! I bought the first sparkley "Fancy Nancy" for my 3 year old granddaughter, Mary Mace, and she LOVES the book. It's one of her favorites. I pre-ordered this one and Mary Mace got it the day after her baby brother was born! Her Daddy read it to her right away and she adored the story of the posh puppy. In fact, when they all were leaving the hospital to bring the new baby home, Mary's Daddy said to her Mom: "What's the matter . . are you sad to leave this *posh* room?" LOL! Mary Mace explained to her Mom that posh was a fancy word for fancy. Ahem! Even Daddy's can learn new words.
The story is about Nancy's neighbor getting a fancy dog called a Papillon. Nancy decides she wants one, too, that is until she 'babysits' the dog and realizes that it's not as much fun as her friends' plain old dogs because it doesn't like to play and fetch. It just likes to sit around looking pretty all day! So Nancy's Mom takes her to the animal shelter where she finds a Poodle named "Frenchie" who is just right for her. This is a fabulous book with a great moral and the artwork is magnificent. A perfect book for any little boy or girl who loves stories.
Click here to see more reviews for: Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
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Wabi Sabi
by Mark Reibstein (based on 5 customer reviews)
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(Hardcover)
Edition: Library Binding
Author: Mark Reibstein
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Price: $11.55
You save: $5.44 (32%) off the list price!
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
14 out of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/10/08
Not to be confused with "wasabi"
Credit author Mark Reibstein with this much. He sure doesn't shy away from trying to teach kids complex philosophical concepts. Here he is writing his very first picture book and does he select something easy like being the new kid in school or losing your first tooth? No, Reibstein decides to write a book about the ancient Chinese concept of wabi sabi (later adopted by the Japanese), working in thoughts on Taoism, haiku, and even the works of Basho on the sly. Paired alongside the remarkable Ed Young's artwork, the final product is a quiet, deep, moving story that may require a special audience, and yet has many uses.
One day Wabi Sabi the cat overhears his mistress discussing his name with a pair of visitors. When asked what "wabi sabi" means, the young woman replies, "That's hard to explain." Curious, Wabi Sabi sets out to find the true meaning of her name. Each creature she asks explains how difficult a concept it is to explain, and they often end their thoughts with a little haiku (each one describing wabi sabi in some manner). It isn't until the cat meets a wise monkey and partakes of tea in a plain and beautiful bowl that the phrase begins to take on a real meaning. Wabi sabi is the feeling you get when you find harmony in the imperfect that is beautiful. Stopping at a temple on her way home, Wabi Sabi creates poems in its honor and truly understands her name by the time she meets up with her mistress once again.
The book bears some surface similarities to Jon Muth's Zen Shorts, though the tone feels a bit different. In both cases, however, you find yourself wondering idly about audience. The idea of a cat searching for the true meaning of its name is something kids will grasp easily. But with the added haiku in the text, the book appears to be aimed at older children. Maybe if a school had a class assignment on haiku this would make for a natural companion piece. Normally when a child has to learn about haiku they are handed a book of poems that are separate from one another. A title like If Not for the CatIf Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky is fun for kids but doesn't always make plain haiku's power to set a moment in time apart from the busyness of life. What Wabi Sabi does is to place these haikus within the context of a larger tale. When that happens, the little sayings and moments are set apart. They are shots of quietude in the midst of a busy narrative. As a result, the entire book has a kind of calming effect on the reader. Whether that effect will touch children as often as it touches adults remains to be seen.
I wouldn't call my relationship to Ed Young's work a love/hate relationship because I've never really hated anything he's done. I just feel that his art varies to a great and grand degree. When Ed Young created Lon Po Po it was justly given a Caldecott Medal for a title that was inarguably the greatest children's art of that given year. Lon Po Po was a triumph. Since then Mr. Young has done personal tales like My Mei Mei and grand sweeping visions with eclectic techniques as in Beyond the Great Mountains. These are all fine and good but few have them have really touched me in any way. Really, I haven't found an Ed Young book I really liked since I, Doko. Wabi Sabi, however, grabbed my attention. It could have been another run-of-the-mill book, but there's something extra here. Something special. Maybe it's wrapped up in the story of these illustrations' creation.
Here is the true story behind the pictures you will see in Wabi Sabi. When Mr. Young was asked to create the art for Reibstein's book he produced a series of beautifully simple images. When the pictures were done he went to visit his editor (or was it his agent?) and left the images on the front porch of the home. When he went outside again to retrieve them, they were gone. Poof! "It was a wabi sabi moment," says Mr. Young. And rather than bemoan his fate, curse the heavens above, and fall into a funk, Young resolved to make the pictures again, "and make them better." The result is what you hold in your hand now. Rather than use the same style (and this really was a case of starting over from scratch), Young went in a new direction. They'll call this artistic style mixed media and I guess that they aren't wrong, but there's something about Young's combinations here that gets at the heart of the story better than any random smattering of pulp on paper could. The epilogue to this tale is that six months or so after the disappearance of the art, it reappeared anonymously at a local church and was returned to Young's possession. And if you do a side-by-side comparison of Young's first try and subsequent re-illustration one thing is patently clear. The new images are better than the originals. Just as Ed Young said they would be.
To talk a little more about the art, can I confess to you that I'm not actually a fan of collage? I'm not. I have nothing against pasting random bits and pieces together in the hopes of creating something new and different, but it's not my favorite style in the whole wide world. And so the single most impressive and interesting image in this book is not, to my mind, the cat or the creatures he encounters but in fact the photograph that lurks behind the publication information at the end of the book. It's a shot taken in low lighting of what appears to be a stone garden. The sand is even, possibly after a recent rain, but breaking it up natural as you please is a set of small and precise cat footprints. The combination of perfect smooth surface and the playful remains of kitty feet is what this book is all about. The perfection of imperfection.
It is not an easy book to describe. I keep trying to give you some vast sense of the whole, and instead I keep finding myself returning to descriptions of single moments. How could I review this book without mentioning the image of Wabi Sabi staring out over a busy city at dusk? Young perfectly captures in a visual sense the accompanying haiku's description of the darkening city, "before the shock of new light", that will come with electricity. I was particularly intrigued to find that though I started the book by imagining that it took place in the past (Wabi Sabi's mistress wears a kimono), the shot of the city places it squarely in the present. This is not a jarring realization, however, and few will have any problems with it.
If people dohave any difficulties with the book, it may lie in the design. Wabi Sabi is a vertical book. To read it, you must turn it so that the pages move from down to up rather than from right to left. Some people find such books too difficult to read to children though, if Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens is any indication, this is something adults object to. Not children.
If you find the song Simple Gifts running through your head, do not be surprised. Heck, you could even pair this book with Chris Raschka's picture book Simple Gifts for a cat-related, simplicity-centric storytime. Concept books are hard enough when you're trying to teach a kid why sharing is bad or why homemade things have more meaning than store bought. Trying to teach kids about why the simple and plain are also beautiful is a task few would willingly select. Reibstein and Young, however, have hit upon the one way it can be done. I suspect that the world will recognize their achievement accordingly. Highly recommended.
Click here to see more reviews for: Wabi Sabi
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Horton Hears a Who! (Classic Seuss)
by Dr. Seuss (based on 63 customer reviews)
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(Hardcover)
Author: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Price: $10.17
You save: $4.78 (32%) off the list price!
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
39 out of 48 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 8/14/01
A classic parable of social justice
Like many of Dr. Seuss' great classics, "Horton Hears a Who!" can be read on multiple levels. You could approach it as a straightforward story (which is, I'm sure, how most children enjoy it). Or you could read the plot and characters as metaphors for larger issues. Either way, "Horton" is an unforgettable text."Horton" opens with the delightful rhyme "On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool, / In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool." Horton, a kind-hearted elephant, is the only inhabitant of the jungle who is capable of hearing the Whos, a microscopic race of beings whose entire civilization exists on a speck of dust. Mocked and abused by those who refuse to believe in the tiny Whos, Horton must ultimately join the Whos in a bold plan to prove the tiny beings' existence, and thus save their civilization from destruction.
Dr. Seuss brilliantly combines the classic animal fable genre with a brilliant science fiction twist. But I also see "Horton" as a deeply humanistic parable of social justice. The Whos could be seen as symbols for any group of individuals who have been rendered "invisible" and voiceless by an arrogant dominant group. So the Whos could represent the poor, the lesbian and gay community, ethnic or religious minorities, women, or other groups.
And Horton could be seen as a courageous, nonconformist prophet of social justice--a sort of Seussian version of Pablo Neruda, or Walt Whitman. Moreover, Horton is a member of the "dominant" group who chooses to identify with and stand in solidarity with a marginalized community, even at the risk of his own freedom. Furthermore, the hoped-for salvation of the Whos lies not in Horton's actions alone, nor in the Whos' own actions alone, but rather in the combined strength of both the entire Who community and their elephant advocate. I believe that Horton's quest reflects the ideas expressed by Brazilian educator-philosopher Paulo Freire in his classic volume "Pedagogy of the Oppressed."
I don't want to reveal the details of the book's ending, but I'll just say that Dr. Seuss brings this suspenseful tale to a triumphant and life-affirming conclusion. And the story is brilliantly enhanced by marvelous Seussian artwork--I especially liked the illustrations of the whimsical Whos and their Escheresque city. "Horton Hears a Who!" is a classic for readers of all ages.
Click here to see more reviews for: Horton Hears a Who! (Classic Seuss)
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
by Eric Carle (based on 326 customer reviews)
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(Board book)
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Philomel
Price: $8.61
You save: $2.38 (22%) off the list price!
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
224 out of 224 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 11/28/07
Lovely
Eric Carle is the favorite author for me and my sister. His illustrations are lovely and just perfect for the stories. We enjoy reading his books again and again. It is a real joy for us.
This is very simple reading about a caterpillar who eats throughout the whole week. We love the brightly colored pictures on each page and repetitive phrases in this book. This book belongs to each household. We also like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3)
Click here to see more reviews for: The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
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The Going-To-Bed Book
by Sandra Boynton (based on 171 customer reviews)
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(Board book)
Edition: Revised
Author: Sandra Boynton
Publisher: Little Simon
Price: $5.99
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
83 out of 87 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 11/17/00
Calming Book for Bedtime, But Also Funny and Engaging!
Sandra Boynton's colorful board book is a bedtime treat! An assortment of expressive animals gets ready for bed aboard a giant boat. Boynton amusingly shows then bathing, dressing, brushing teeth ("With some on top and some beneath, they brush and brush and brush their teeth."), and exercising together.It closes with the animals settling down for the night: "They rock and rock and rock to sleep." Graced by Boynton's well-known illustrations and rhythmic, lullabye-like poetry, this is a great book for infants and toddlers alike. It's one of those books you'll keep long after the kid(s) grow up.
Click here to see more reviews for: The Going-To-Bed Book
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Open the Barn Door, Find a Cow (A Chunky Book(R))
(based on 75 customer reviews)
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(Board book)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Price: $3.99
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
55 out of 56 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 12/6/05
Not what I expected
I ordered this book based on all its' glowing reviews. I was a little disappointed when it arrived though. It's very small... yes... good for throwing in your purse etc.. but the flaps inside are also very small. Too small for my 11 month old to use, and a little difficult to find. I'm still going to give it four stars. The illustrations are very colorful and fun. The location of the flaps with-in the pictures is very well done... it's just a shame they are so small. I'm sure my son will really enjoy this book in 5 months or so.
*** For a better young age appropriate lift the flap book, try "Hide and Seek Farm", by Grandreams books. This book is a little bigger, but the card board flaps are huge, and the illustrations simple and colorful. My sons loves this series! (Hide and seek Ocean, Forest, Farm, Pets, Jungle, and Polar)
Click here to see more reviews for: Open the Barn Door, Find a Cow (A Chunky Book(R))
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Goodnight Moon (Board Book)
by Margaret Wise Brown (based on 592 customer reviews)
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(Board book)
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Publisher: HarperFestival
Price: $8.99
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
300 out of 301 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 5/23/07
Perfect Gift
Goodnight Moon" fulfills two very powerful needs to small children - to keep their mothers close to their sides as long as possible and to make closure on their day by telling each object goodnight. It is a poetic and soothing book helping babies and parents to calm down and go to bed. This charming story of a young rabbit's bedtime ritual invokes the kind of cozy quiet that invites the peaceful security of pleasant dreams. This book is a "must have" for any parent of a young child. Add to it "Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 1" and you have a perfect birthday package. You might also want to cosider Corduroy , The Giving Tree, and Love You Forever
Click here to see more reviews for: Goodnight Moon (Board Book)
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr. (based on 318 customer reviews)
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(Board book)
Author: Bill Martin Jr.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Price: $7.95
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Most useful review as voted by customers:
77 out of 87 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 9/11/00
Another Classic From Carle
I've had three children who fell in love with this book around age two. It does a wonderful job of teaching colors, animals and rhyme to toddlers.Aided by Carle's unique illustrations, this book begs to be chanted by the parent who will be reading it for the umpteenth time. ("Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see a red bird looking at me. Red bird, red bird, what do you see? I see a ....." etc., etc.) The cadence and rhythm of the words have fascinated my youngsters as they learn to identify different colored animals populating the pages of the book. Strictly a teaching tool, the book does not have a story per se, but it seems to be just right for the child who is just beginning to discover the larger world.
Click here to see more reviews for: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
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